Efficacy of Skin Patting and Iontophoresis with Dutasteride Gel in Male and Menopausal Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study

This pilot study explored the use of a 6% dutasteride gel applied through skin patting and iontophoresis in 20 adults with treatment-resistant androgenetic alopecia. The results showed significant improvements in hair density, shaft diameter, and reduced hair shedding, with 70% of participants finding the treatment effective and 85% describing it as pleasant. No adverse events were reported. The study indicates that this method enhances local anti-androgen effects while minimizing systemic exposure. However, limitations include the small sample size, open-label design, lack of a comparator arm, short follow-up, and non-validated outcome measures, necessitating larger randomized trials for confirmation.